Planning for Effective E-Learning

You may have heard the term Rapid E-learning and wondered to yourself, what does it mean?

As I understand it, Rapid E-learning is delivering training (learning) by electronic means, utilizing quick design and development methodologies and available resources to bring a final solution to your target audience in the most efficient manner.  If you have conducted your own research on the subject, you may have found different definitions.  Nevertheless, the result is still the same – creating an engaging learning experience quickly and inexpensively.

A recent project with a client had me thinking about the process behind developing e-learning. Although it was successful, the development of the e-learning modules from start to finish was a little rushed, but for good reason.  Under normal circumstances I would have a planned out development methodology into distinct stages.

1. Planning – analyzing the content, creating a look & feel and proof of concept
2. Design and development – produce the e-learning based on the instructional design concept formed during the planning stage
3. Testing – using a sample of actual participants from the target audience pool, test the e-learning module(s) functionality and effectiveness of knowledge transfer
4. Delivery – after final fixes to any technical bugs or errors and content edits (if necessary), deliver the project to the client.

As you can see from applying these steps or phases, and using basic project planning methodology, a quality learning experience can still be produced but at a cost and within a timeframe acceptable to the client.